Thursday 29 April 2021
GK Update of fifteenth and sixteenth April 2021 masking the next information headlines: e-SANTA, Poshan Gyan, Regulations Review Authority, Gaganyaan Mission, Amazon, Inclusive Internet Index 2021, World Voice Day.
National News
1. Mental-Health Digital Platform MANAS Launched
- The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. K Vijay Raghavan launched a cellular app known as “MANAS” to cater psychological well-being of residents on scalable, safe and digital platforms.
- MANAS stands for Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System.
- MANAS is an initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. It has been collectively executed by NIMHANS Bengaluru, AFMC Pune and C-DAC Bengaluru.
- The app MANAS is developed below the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), to advertise wellbeing throughout age teams.
2. Piyush Goyal Launches “e-SANTA”, an Electronic Marketplace For Aqua Farmers
- Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal has inaugurated e-SANTA, an digital market, to supply a platform for connecting aqua farmers and patrons. e-SANTA goals to lift earnings, way of life, self-reliance, high quality ranges, traceability, of aqua farmers.
- e-SANTA stands for Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers’ Trade-in Aquaculture.
- Here, the time period National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA) is an extension arm of the Marine Products Export Development Authority.
- It will act as a substitute advertising and marketing device between farmers & patrons by eliminating middlemen.
- The platform will assist the farmers to get a greater worth and the exporters to instantly buy high quality merchandise from the farmers and enhancing traceability.
International News
3. US President Biden publicizes full troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
- US President Joe Biden has introduced that every one American troops can be withdrawn from Afghanistan by September 11 this 12 months, thus bringing to finish the nation’s longest warfare.
- US troops, in addition to forces deployed by our NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Allies and operational companions, will probably be out of Afghanistan earlier than the twentieth anniversary of that heinous assault on September 11 (2001).
- Biden and his workforce are refining nationwide technique to observe and disrupt vital terrorist threats not solely in Afghanistan, however wherever they might come up — Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
- Before making the announcement, Biden had spoken with former US presidents Barack Obama and George Bush.
- The US and the Taliban signed a landmark deal in Doha on February 29, 2020, to deliver lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan and permit US troops to return residence from America’s longest warfare.
4. Indian-American Congressman Introduces Resolution “To Honour” BR Ambedkar
- An Indian-American Congressman has launched a decision within the US House of Representatives for a second consecutive 12 months to honour Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution, on his a hundred and thirtieth beginning anniversary in order that younger leaders around the globe will be impressed by his imaginative and prescient for equality.
- The decision states that Dr Ambedkar’s contributions to economics, political science, civil rights, non secular concord, and jurisprudence have had a profound influence around the globe, selling democratic values, unfettered equality, and justice for peoples of all castes, races, genders, religions, and backgrounds.
State News
5. Himachal Day is noticed on fifteenth April
- Himachal Day is noticed on fifteenth April in Himachal Pradesh. The state turned a full-fledged state on at the present time.
- Four districts of Mandi, Chamba, Mahasu and Sirmour had been built-in with over two dozen princely states, resulting in the formation of Himachal Pradesh as a Union Territory in 1948.
- Decades later, in 1971, Himachal Pradesh turned the 18th state in India with Shimla as its capital.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Chief Minister of HP: Jairam Thakur; Governor of HP: Bandaru Dattatraya.
6. Pohela Boishakh (Subho Noboborsho) 2021
- Pohela Boishakh, often known as Bengali New Year, is the normal New Year day of the Bengali folks.
- The pageant date is about in response to the lunisolar Bengali calendar as the primary day of its first month Baishakh. However, the pageant falls on April 14 or April 15 yearly in India.
- In Bengali, Pohela stands for ‘first’ and Boishakh is the primary month of the Bengali calendar. The pageant is well known with processions, gala’s and household time. Bengalis everywhere in the world have a good time New Year by on at the present time by greeting one another by saying Shubho Nobobarsho.
Banking News
7. RBI to arrange Regulations Review Authority for one 12 months
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will probably be arrange a brand new Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0) from May 1, 2021, to evaluate the rules, circulars, reporting techniques and compliance procedures of the central financial institution for streamlining them and making them more practical. The RRA will probably be arrange for a interval of one 12 months except the timeline is prolonged by the RBI.
- M Rajeshwar Rao, Deputy Governor, RBI would be the head of the Regulations Review Authority.
- RRA will probably be tasked with making regulatory and supervisory directions more practical by eradicating redundancies and duplications if any.
- It have to be famous that previous to this, an identical RRA was arrange by RBI on April 1, 1999, for a interval of 1 12 months to evaluate the rules, circulars, reporting techniques, primarily based on the suggestions from the general public, banks, and monetary establishments.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- RBI twenty fifth Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
8. Punjab National Bank launches digital initiative PNB@Ease
- Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched a digital initiative “PNB@Ease” below which each and every transaction undertaken by a financial institution department will probably be initiated and authorised by prospects themselves. This facility will allow the shoppers to avail all banking providers below one roof.
- On its 127th basis day, PNB introduced different digital initiatives resembling the moment opening of on-line saving accounts by way of video-KYC, insta pre-approved mortgage, insta Demat account and insurance coverage facility by web and cellular banking providers. PNB’s 127th Foundation Day celebrated on Apr 12, 2021.
- This facility will allow the shoppers to avail all banking providers below one roof, he mentioned, including, PNB@Ease shops would increase the financial institution’s distribution functionality and decrease the price of buyer acquisition.
- The service can vary from financial savings accounts opening to availing numerous loans and extra, with out visiting a department or assist from the financial institution workers.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Punjab National Bank Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Punjab National Bank MD and CEO: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao.
- Punjab National Bank Founded: 19 May 1894, Lahore, Pakistan.
Business News
9. Amazon launches $250-million Venture Fund for Digitizing SMEs in India
- The e-commerce big Amazon has launched a $250 million (Rs 1,873 crore) enterprise fund known as “Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund”, to put money into Indian startups and entrepreneurs, with a give attention to digitizing SMEs. The launch of the Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund goals to draw the most effective concepts and empower entrepreneurs within the nation to associate on this imaginative and prescient.
- As part of its first funding by the ‘Smbhav’ fund, Amazon invested in Gurugram-based M1xchange which connects SMEs with banks and financiers.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Amazon.com Inc founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos.
- Amazon.com Inc Founded: 5 July 1994.
- Amazon.com Inc Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States.
Appointments Days
10. Prime Minister of Haiti Joseph Jouthe Resigns
- Prime Minister of Haiti, Joseph Jouthe has resigned following a scenario of unrest within the nation because of a rise in killing and kidnapping circumstances over the previous few days.
- Joseph Jouthe served because the Prime Minister of Haiti from March 4, 2020, till April 14, 2021. President Jovenel Moise has nominated Claude Joseph as the brand new prime minister of Haiti.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
Haiti Capital: Port-au-Prince; Currency: Haitian gourde.
Agreement Days
11. India signal MoU with France for cooperation on Gaganyaan Mission
- The Indian area company, ISRO has signed an settlement with the area company of France CNES for cooperation in its first human area mission, Gaganyaan. CNES will prepare Indian flight physicians and CAPCOM mission management groups at French amenities.
- The Gaganyaan orbital spacecraft challenge was kicked off in August 2018. It initially meant to ship astronauts from Indian soil to mark the seventy fifth anniversary of India’s independence in 2022.
- CNES will present tools developed by it, examined and nonetheless working aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to Indian crews.
- It may also provide fireproof carry luggage made in France to protect tools from shocks and radiation.
- The settlement supplies for the CNES to help the implementation of a scientific experiment plan on validation missions, alternate info on meals packaging and the diet programme, and above all of the use by Indian astronauts of French tools, consumables and medical devices.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan.
- ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- ISRO established: 15 August 1969.
Ranks and Reports Days
12. India ranks forty ninth in Inclusive Internet Index 2021
- The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), in partnership with Facebook, has launched the Inclusive Internet Index 2021. India has been ranked at forty ninth spot globally. It shares its rank with Thailand.
- This index measures the extent to which the web is out there and inexpensive by area, and highlights further perception into how folks around the globe are utilizing the online.
- Top 5 Countries: Sweden, United States, Spain, Australia and Hong Kong.
- The ‘Inclusive Internet Index’ surveyed 120 nations, representing 98 per cent of worldwide GDP and 96 per cent of the worldwide inhabitants.
- The general Index rating relies on 4 parameters, that are: Availability, Affordability, Relevance and Readiness classes. The Inclusive Internet Index is commissioned by Facebook and developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Schemes and Committees News
13. NITI Aayog launches ‘Poshan Gyan’, a digital repository on well being, diet
- NITI Aayog, in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University launched known as “Poshan Gyan”, a nationwide digital repository on well being and diet. The web site will be accessed by eh following hyperlink: https://poshangyan.niti.gov.in/
- The distinctive characteristic of the repository is that it has a crowdsourcing characteristic that enables anybody to submit communication materials for inclusion on the web site, adopted by a evaluate by a chosen committee.
- Poshan Gyan repository permits the search of communication supplies on 14 thematic areas of well being and diet throughout numerous languages, media sorts, goal audiences and sources.
- Content for the repository has been sourced from the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Women and Child Development and developmental organizations.
14. ‘Aahaar Kranti’ mission launched by Health Ministry
- Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched Aahaar Kranti, a mission devoted to spreading consciousness about diet. It is designed to handle the peculiar downside of starvation and illnesses in abundance, being confronted by India and the world.
- The motion proposes to handle the issue by working to evoke the folks to the values and richness of India’s conventional weight-reduction plan, to the therapeutic powers of native vegatables and fruits and to the miracles of a balanced weight-reduction plan. Vijnana Bharati, Global Indian Scientists and Technocrats Forum, Vigyan Prasar, and Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark have come collectively to launch this mission.
Awards News
15. Marathi movie Puglya wins Best Foreign Feature at Moscow Film Fest
- The Marathi movie “Puglya” has received the Best Foreign Language Feature award at Moscow International Film Festival, 2021. The movie Puglya has been directed and produced by Vinod Sam Peter below the banner Abraham Films.
- So far, this movie has received over 45 awards and recognitions at numerous worldwide movie festivals. The movie is but to be launched in India. The movie revolves round a pug and two boys, who’re round 10 years outdated.
Science and Technology News
16. A ‘Healthy normal’ Monsoon forecasts by Skymet
- Skymet has launched its monsoon forecast for 2021. Skymet expects the upcoming monsoon to be ‘healthy normal’ to the tune of 103% (with an error margin of +/- 5%) of the lengthy interval common (LPA) of 880.6 mm for the 4-month interval from June to September.
- The North India plains together with a couple of components of northeast India are liable to being rain poor by the season.
- The Indian Ocean Dipole, characterised by a temperature gradient within the western and jap Indian Ocean. It is anticipated to be barely on the unfavourable. Usually a constructive dipole aids the monsoon.
- During the season in India, the monsoon in 2019 and 2020 was solely the third time in a century of back-to-back years of above regular rainfall.
Important Days
17. World Voice Day: 16 April
- The World Voice Day (WVD) is well known globally on April 16 yearly to show the big significance of the voice within the every day lives of all folks.
- The Day is a world annual occasion devoted to recognizing the boundless limits of the human voice. The mission is to share the thrill of the voice phenomenon with folks, scientists, and different funding our bodies.
- The theme of 2021 is ONE WORLD|MANY VOICES.
- World Voice Day discovered its beginnings in 1999 as Brazilian National Voice Day.
Obituaries News
18. Former election commissioner G.V.G. Krishnamurthy passes away
- Former election commissioner, GVG Krishnamurty handed away because of age-related illnesses. An Indian Legal Service officer, Krishnamurty turned the election commissioner in October 1993 to September 1996.
Miscellaneous News
19. “Online Grievance Management Portal” launched
- Union Minister for Communication & IT and Law & Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the “Online Grievance Management Portal of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)”.
- NCSC Grievance Management portal would make it simpler for Scheduled Castes inhabitants of our nation to register their criticism from any a part of the nation.
- The portal shall allow them to file their software and different atrocity and providers associated grievances on-line and to get them addressed in a time sure method.
- NCSC goals to streamline the grievance redressal specifically of the Scheduled Caste inhabitants by this portal.
- The portal designed in collaboration with the Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N), a Centre of Excellence below the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India will facilitate an end-to-end e-filing of complaints and grievances and their monitoring.
20. HGCO19 an mRNA Vaccine Candidate
- India’s mRNA-based covid-19 vaccine candidate-HGCO19, developed by Pune-based biotechnology firm Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd has acquired further authorities funding for its scientific research.
- The division of biotechnology (DBT), ministry of science & expertise on Tuesday introduced approval of further funding awarded below Mission Covid Suraksha—The Indian covid-19 Vaccine Development Mission by DBT’s devoted Mission Implementation Unit at Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
- After a number of rounds of analysis of all of the functions that had been submitted in response to the ‘Request for Expression of Interest (REOI)’ below Mission COVID Suraksha for the event of covid-19 vaccine candidate(s)’.